Profiling of Tryptophan Metabolic Pathways in the Rat Fetoplacental Unit During Gestation.

ABSTRACT: Placental homeostasis of tryptophan is essential for fetal development and programming. The two main metabolic pathways (serotonin and kynurenine) produce bioactive metabolites with immunosuppressive, neurotoxic, or neuroprotective properties and their concentrations in the fetoplacental unit must be tightly regulated throughout gestation. Here, we investigated the expression/function of key enzymes/transporters involved in tryptophan pathways during mid-to-late gestation in rat placenta and fetal organs. Quantitative PCR and heatmap analysis revealed the differential expression of several genes involved in serotonin and kynurenine pathways. To identify the flux of substrates through these pathways, Droplet Digital PCR, western blot, and functional analyses were carried out for the rate-li

SUBMITTER: Abad C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7589826 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature